45

Sophia

The silence at home felt more uncomfortable than ever because I was alone with my thoughts. I didn’t know solitude could make me overthink so much, but I guess being terrified about Bright made everything heavier.

Although, in truth, I wasn’t completely alone.

My parents were here, just as Bright had promised. He spoke to them before leaving for the border, and, as always, his word was enough. My mother settled in the kitchen as if the world wasn’t falling apart, and my father sat in his usual armchair, flipping through the same newspaper from days ago as if he didn’t notice his daughter was falling apart right before his eyes.

The guards outside were the only thing that broke the illusion of normalcy, though I’d been living with them for several days now. I knew there were at least four werewolves stationed around the house. I saw them when I arrived, I felt their footsteps at night, and I heard their low murmurs when they communicated through their earpieces. It was a subtle,